Heating - Leaving it on 24hr to save energy
Discussion
I'm not an expert but I was told that as well by an ex plumber. The idea is that it stops the house getting really cold then when the heating comes on it has to work really hard just to get it up to a normal temperature again.
From about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
From about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
Ultuous said:
Heat transfer (i.e out of the house in this case) is higher with a larger temperature differential... Therefore you're correct... You're throwing away energy by keeping the place warm all day!
This is the answer.The only way you could save energy if you run it all the time, would be to set the temperature lower.
Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 9th November 07:38
Inkyfingers said:
I'm not an expert but I was told that as well by an ex plumber. The idea is that it stops the house getting really cold then when the heating comes on it has to work really hard just to get it up to a normal temperature again.
From about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
Your plumber is talking bFrom about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
ksYour boiler can not work any harder than running at its full capacity. it is most efficient when its running this way. You are simply adding energy into the house, and it is losing that heat. The heat loss is dependant on the difference between outside and inside temps. The bigger the difference the more you lose. If you hold the house temps up over night, then you will be ensuring that you have a maximum difference right at the point you dont need it.
98elise said:
Inkyfingers said:
I'm not an expert but I was told that as well by an ex plumber. The idea is that it stops the house getting really cold then when the heating comes on it has to work really hard just to get it up to a normal temperature again.
From about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
Your plumber is talking bFrom about November we have ours on a fairly low setting all winter, but having yours on all summer seems a bit strange, sounds like your Mrs either needs to buy a jumper or see a doctor if she keeps getting that cold in the summer.
ksYour boiler can not work any harder than running at its full capacity. it is most efficient when its running this way. You are simply adding energy into the house, and it is losing that heat. The heat loss is dependant on the difference between outside and inside temps. The bigger the difference the more you lose. If you hold the house temps up over night, then you will be ensuring that you have a maximum difference right at the point you dont need it.
I had a British Gas engineer tell me when he was servicing my boiler that you should keep the house at 18 degrees as that was the most efficient - what a load of cobblers!
I do tend to keep it on low, 12-15 degrees when I'm out, then turn it up (a little!) when I'm home. If nothing else it takes less time to get the house to a comfortable temperature.
I do tend to keep it on low, 12-15 degrees when I'm out, then turn it up (a little!) when I'm home. If nothing else it takes less time to get the house to a comfortable temperature.
Edited by LordHaveMurci on Wednesday 9th November 13:28
LordHaveMurci said:
I had a British Gas engineer tell me when he was servicing my boiler that you should keep the house at 18 degrees as that was the most efficient - what a load of cobblers!
I do tend to keep it on low, 12-15 degrees when I'm out, then turn it up (a little!) when I'm home. If nothing else it takes less time to get the house to a comfortable temperature.
I was told that by an indi & I spent a lot less last year than I did the year before looking at the BG graphs & my bank balance I do tend to keep it on low, 12-15 degrees when I'm out, then turn it up (a little!) when I'm home. If nothing else it takes less time to get the house to a comfortable temperature.
Doing the same this year too & it looks to be less again (but then this year I have control of the temp, not my housemate!)
I think it depends on the thermal efficiency of the house.
IIRC, if the house is new(ish), with plenty of insulation, cavity walls etc and generally efficient, then it is better to have the heating on as and when required.
If, however, it's an old house, no cavity walls etc (like mine), then it works out cheaper to keep the heating on 24/7 at a lower setting. I keep mine at about 19C and it's cheaper than timed heating..
It seems to be with heating the structure.
If the heating is on timer, then the air warms up quick enough, but the also cools down quickly too once the heating goes off.
When it is on constantly, it stays warmer for much longer once it is turned off.
IIRC, if the house is new(ish), with plenty of insulation, cavity walls etc and generally efficient, then it is better to have the heating on as and when required.
If, however, it's an old house, no cavity walls etc (like mine), then it works out cheaper to keep the heating on 24/7 at a lower setting. I keep mine at about 19C and it's cheaper than timed heating..
It seems to be with heating the structure.
If the heating is on timer, then the air warms up quick enough, but the also cools down quickly too once the heating goes off.
When it is on constantly, it stays warmer for much longer once it is turned off.
Edited by stackmonkey on Wednesday 9th November 14:03
Well sad as I am, and working from home a lot I've tried it out both ways as a comparison.
Ours is an old drafty victorian house and keeping the stat on 18 degrees constantly for two weeks last November used roughly 40% more gas than two weeks of having it set at 13 degrees when we were out, and 18 degrees between 6:30-7:30 & 18:00-22:00. Obviously there were temperature differences outside but 40% was enough to convince me.
Ours is an old drafty victorian house and keeping the stat on 18 degrees constantly for two weeks last November used roughly 40% more gas than two weeks of having it set at 13 degrees when we were out, and 18 degrees between 6:30-7:30 & 18:00-22:00. Obviously there were temperature differences outside but 40% was enough to convince me.
jj333 said:
Well sad as I am, and working from home a lot I've tried it out both ways as a comparison.
Ours is an old drafty victorian house and keeping the stat on 18 degrees constantly for two weeks last November used roughly 40% more gas than two weeks of having it set at 13 degrees when we were out, and 18 degrees between 6:30-7:30 & 18:00-22:00. Obviously there were temperature differences outside but 40% was enough to convince me.
This is first set of figures regarding this subject that i have seen. Ours is an old drafty victorian house and keeping the stat on 18 degrees constantly for two weeks last November used roughly 40% more gas than two weeks of having it set at 13 degrees when we were out, and 18 degrees between 6:30-7:30 & 18:00-22:00. Obviously there were temperature differences outside but 40% was enough to convince me.
I have often thought about measuring gas and electricity over a set period of time for both scenarios. Very awkward unless everything else in the house is turned off (Tv, cooker) not to mention variables such as outside temperature.
Heating - Leaving it on 24hr to save energy
and a plane on a conveyor belt won't take off.
Why do some people have no common sense.
As others have said, the warmer the house relative to the outside the more it will cost to run.
Of course a house will take longer to heat up from cold, but turning heating off when there is no one home will save money.
I've heard the same argument about leaving a hot water cylinder switched on when you go on holiday - and to think these people beat 5 million other sperm.
and a plane on a conveyor belt won't take off.
Why do some people have no common sense.
As others have said, the warmer the house relative to the outside the more it will cost to run.
Of course a house will take longer to heat up from cold, but turning heating off when there is no one home will save money.
I've heard the same argument about leaving a hot water cylinder switched on when you go on holiday - and to think these people beat 5 million other sperm.
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